Josh Childress used to play for the Atlanta Hawks. During his four years with the team they averaged about 27 wins per season. Good times. Well as you all know, he’s now playing in Greece for Olympiacos and likely not getting too nostalgic about all those glory-filled moments in Atlanta.

“They’re a little bit more passionate about their sports here. You see tons of people in the street who just love you just because you play for their team,” Childress says.

I’d argue that we’re pretty passionate about our sports here too, but he did play in Atlanta. Do you think he ever bumped into anyone in the street who showered him with praise simply because he played for the Hawks? I’m guessing some people might have pulled a Spicoli ‘I know that dude‘, but that’s probably about it.

He has only been in Athens since late summer, yet Childress says he’s already more famous in Greece than he could ever be in the United States. We watched a bartender kneel at his feet, and begin to kiss them. Passionately. Then his zealous admirer — as if to confirm that he was not worthy — bowed before the bemused Childress.

The equivalent of this in Atlanta would be a steak on the house at Outback. Prince Akeem and Semmi would not approve.

When Childress was in the NBA, he was a pretty average player, logging solid minutes and putting up 11 points and 6 rebounds per game. Now he’s in Greece making more money in three seasons than he would have in five seasons with the Hawks, and the team is footing the bill for his taxes.

The only negative I’ve been able to come up with in all of this is that the teams over there all fly commercial and on the road he has to share a hotel room with a teammate instead of a hooker.

Other than that, why isn’t every average-to-decent player flocking over there in droves? It’s not like they can’t come back after a few years.

I wonder if Josh has made his way over to Mykonos yet? Kinda fun.

For Childress, Greece is The Word [ESPN]